The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-12-17

IL heuriy uii JIG uuys Jill bOWHrus cNeIi-
ing my uncle falls into deep sleep
and l can safely leave him with his
nurse. Il was rambling old house,
Norlington Farm, and 1t had been my
only home now for nearly seven years,
all of which time William Mapleson
had lived as my uncle's steward and
helper under the same roof.
1t has been hard, self-dcnying life
for him, perhaps; but for me-or rather
for his love for me-he would never
have borne 1t. Till lattcrly the hard old
man had never discovered our love;
and when he had there was no more
peace for us under his roof.
He had ragged aud stormed, declaring
that no niece of his should marry Will
lam Mapleson, on pain of disinherit-
ance.
Mine was always a weak, timid ma
ture. Perhaps some women q was no
longer young girl; my thirtieth birth
day had come and gomez would have
actively resented his tyranny and as
serted their individual rights; l could
not. l was in his power; for when my
parents died he had taken me in, q
penniless girl. and had from that time
given me. in his particular hard way,
all that / needed to live-not but some
would have felt they fully earned such
keep.
scarcely ever looked at it in that
way.
had been weak and helpless, alone
in the world. not very strong in health,
when he had come to my fathers
funerals and after paying all expenses,
had simply said: Now go and pack
up your kit. You must come with me
to Norlington Farm. Can't say, I'm
sure, what old Betty will say; but there $
nothing else, as l see, to be done. Re-
member, my girl, tits not lady's life l
am offering you: but suppose you are
not too fine lady to know what work
meansp"
"lf had been then, all was corrected
by now. During these seven years
have worked hard and lived hard.
Yet there are those who say that old
Peter Glennie is worth half million of
money.
My golden week of happiness is gone;
but although William is gone, l am
strangely content.
l do not regret tho step have taken.
Since the morning after my marriage
my uncle had been better and quieter.
Old Mr.. Baines, the lawyer, had been
with him full hour that morning, and
old Jenkyns had been called into his
room to sign his narae to some docu-
ment, together with the hired nurse.
"Hc is o miserable old man." she
said to me the other day. II suppose
it's his will we signed. What grudgc
he seems to have against marriage.
He growls continually, even in his sleep.
about fools getting married.
"Ah!' said: 'he has never mar
ried."
"No," she laughed. 81 should not
say any one was the loser by that,
either"
He had called her at this moment.
and was left alone to overhear II con-
versation between old Jenkyns and
Betty, who, being both deaf, were talk
ing over the same matter in the kitchen.
"Ah. we'll, Betty, it's hard day for
the farm when Mr.. William goes away;
and how'll the old master do wi new
steward at his tonne o. life. wonder?''
"He knows what he's about, never
you fear. Do'ee think for moment
as how he don't know a letting him 60
is the only way O. prcventin' a mar.
riage between he and Miss NorahP Ha!
ha! ha!'
i AS l hear her cunning old laugh at
my expense l sit hugging my love to
my heart.
Old Betty always owed me grudge
for coming to Norlington Farm,
although she had been compelled to
show me ordinary civility.
How little she knew we were mar.
ried only yesterday, under her very
nose, as it were.
So far l had deceived him and the
few other people l knew-deceived hin
through his own hardness; for so fal
as l was concerned would have told
him, only knew and my husband
knew that any sudden shock would in
all probability kill him.
We should have parted and kept true
faith with each other if my strength
had not been weakened when that good
offer to 60 to Canada had come so sud
denly. Theu he had prayed me te
marry him before he started. so thai
if my uncle died l might at once come
out to him as his wife.
And now William was gone. The
ship had sailed and was alone; bu
happier far than MS if 1 had denied him
his prayer.
Since the day after my marriage
when Mr.. Baines had been with my un
Gle, he had been quieter, but strangely
anxious not to let me out Of his sight
All through the week had not beer
once out of the house. Of this ht
seemed to take full care by keeping me
near him by every pretcnce he coult
think of.
The ship had sailed only one weel
when my uncle died suddenly, ant
then on the day of his lonely funera
came the reading of tho old miser's
will.
came down with my wedding-ring
/ exposed for the first time.